Mike's Movie Tips

 4/4 Starring (voices): Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh, Ava Morse, Hyena Park, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Orion Lee, Tristan Allerick Chen Rated PG for Thematic Material, Suggestive Content and Language One of the unsung values of animation is that it can visualize imagination in ways that live action (or what passes for it) simply cannot.  This is as true of Disney as anyone else.  With animation, Scar is far more treacherous and terrifying than any lion on the Serengeti could possibly be.  Compare the classic animated version to the photorealistic remake if you don't believe me.  All the money and technology in the world couldn't prevent it from feeling like a pale echo of the original. But let's take this even further.  Animation can conceptualize the abstract.  With drawings, it is possible to visually express things like emotions (" Inside Out ") or creatures that only the director can imagine (anything by Hayao Miyazaki...literally anything).  And ...

 0.5/4 Starring (voices): H. Jon Benjamin, Kristen Schaal, Dan Mintz, John Roberts, Eugene Mirman, David Wain, Zach Galifianakis, Kevin Kline Rated PG-13 for Rude/Suggestive Material and Language In general, there are two approaches to comedy these days.  One comes from recognition of human behavior or satirizing cultural truths.  It depends on characteristics and obsessions that, however bizarre, are ones we understand and can sympathize with.  For example, one of the reasons why " Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse " was so funny is that, even while fleeing zombies, Carter's insatiable desire for sex superseded everything.  His attention was focused on sex at every moment. The other is to be awkward and derive laughter from openly acknowledging that the behavior is awkward. To varying degrees, it's deadpan and self-aware.  It's humor that depends on the audience laughing at humor the film pretends not to know about.  True, comic characters should ...

 3.5/4 Starring: Uzo Kayama, Toshiro Mifune, Terumi Niki, Yoshio Tsuchiya Not Rated (probable R for Disturbing Violent and Sexual Content and Brief Nudity) Doctors are fairly common in movies.  They're on screen to deliver important news to the main characters, help with baby delivery, or quickly establish background for a character.  They're either walk-ons or cinematic shorthand.  Rarely do we see on film the experience of being a doctor.  The day to day grind that is simultaneously validating and heartbreaking, the need to connect, and those rare moments of success that make all the hard work worth it. Hotshot doctor Noburo Yasumoto (Kayama) believes he is dropping off a note to a clinic for the poor on his way to his new job as personal physician to the shogun.  He's in for a serious reality check: he's the clinic's new doctor.  That means no cushy job or life of luxury for him.  Instead he'll be overworked and underpaid, and serving under Re...

 1.5/4 Starring (voices): Bruce Greenwood, Jensen Ackles, Joe DiMaggio, Neil Patrick Harris, Wade Williams, Jason Isaacs, Kelly Hu Rated PG-13 for Violent Content and Some Drug References Superheroes only work when we can relate to them.  We have to believe that they are, if not believable, at least plausible.  Every time I have tried to get into superhero comics, I find it impossible because it gets so over-the-top.  When you have Batman, who uses gadgets and his own strict code, crossing dimensions or whatnot, it crosses a line where he loses his identity.  Anything is possible.  And that's the problem.  If he or the characters he interacts with can do anything, then what are the stakes?  What are the risks? I had that same problem with "Batman: Under the Red Hood."  The central conflict isn't the problem.  In fact, with a more grounded approach it could have been riveting.  But when you have a grounded character like Batman dueli...

 2/4 Starring: Kevin Costner, Madeleine Stowe, Anthony Quinn, Miguel Ferrer The version being reviewed is unrated.  For the record, the theatrical cut is rated R (probable for Strong Violence, Graphic Sexuality/Nudity, Language and Drug Content) "Revenge" is a dime-store potboiler that starts strong but loses the thread because it fails to respect the rules of the genre to the very end.  Perhaps director Tony Scott, working from a short story by Jim Harrison, was trying to both honor and subvert the revenge story.  If so, it didn't work.  Which is all the more tragic because it starts out so well. Jay Cochran (Costner) is a fighter pilot who has just decided to hang up his wings.  To celebrate his retirement, he decides to pay a visit to his wealthy friend Tibey Mendez (Quinn).  He is impressed with Tibey's life of luxury and power, but what truly captures his attention is Tibey's scintillating wife, Miryea (Stowe).  The attraction is mutual and s...

 1/4 Starring: Zac Efron, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Sydney Lemmon, Michael Greyeyes, Gloria Reuben, John Beasley Rated R for Violent Content Chase movies must have excitement and action.  Even the slow-burn ones (as much as an oxymoron as that sounds, they exist) have a sense of urgency and tension.  This should be as obvious to every member of the audience, much less the director. So can someone please explain to me then why this new version of "Firestarter" is paced like a Merchant/Ivory movie? Right off the bat, it becomes clear that something is off.  The opening scenes that explain the set up last far too long.  The pacing is very slack; either I had already gotten what the scene was trying to convey or director Keith Thomas takes far too long to reveal it.  Usually both.  This is a problem that affects virtually every scene in this film. The premise of the film is ridiculous.  That isn't the problem so much as it's badly implemented.  When ...

 3/4 Starring: Evan Rachel Wood, Michael Angarano, David Gallagher, Vivica A. Fox Rated PG for Thematic Elements For whatever reason, Hollywood continuously underestimates the intelligence of kids.  How else can one explain movies as banal and insipid as " Norm of the North ," " Judy Moody and the Not So Bummer Summer ," or the cinematic turd that was " Teen Titans GO! To the Movies ."  While they may not be ready for a David Mamet movie (I remember going to see "The Spanish Prisoner" when it came out because we all loved Steve Martin, but my brother and I were bored out of our minds), kids are pretty savvy.  If the movies told stories about characters and ideas they can relate to, they'll eat it up.  Which is why I think that "Little Secrets" is a solid choice for families. Emily Lindstrom (Wood) is a talented violinist who has skipped summer camp to prepare for her audition to the local youth orchestra.  But she's also got a s...

 3.5/4 Starring: Alexander Skarsgard, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang, Ethan Hawke, Gustav Lindh, Willem Dafoe Rated R for Strong Bloody Violence, Some Sexual Content and Nudity "The Northman" takes no prisoners.  It's encouraging to know that there are filmmakers out there who refuse to make concessions for mainstream appeal.  Robert Eggers' latest film is harsh and brutal; it fearlessly risks getting an NC-17 and flouts conventional formulas.  This is not a film for everyone.  Far from it.  But those who venture in and surrender themselves to Eggers' atypical vision, they'll find their time well-rewarded. Amleth (Oscar Novak) is the apple of his father's eye.  King Aurvandil War-Raven (Hawke) is preparing his son to inherit the throne.  As soon as the ritual is completed, the king is slain by his brother Fjolnir the Brotherless (Bang).  Fjolnir then slaughters the village and kidnaps Amleth's mother, Queen Gudrun (Kidman).  ...

 2/4 Starring: Vin Diesel, Larenz Tate, Timothy Olyphant, Geno Silva, Jacqueline Obradors Rated R for Strong Graphic Violence, Language, Drug Content and Sexuality People often forget, or overlook, the fact that beneath the muscles Vin Diesel is a really good actor.  His considerable screen presence overshadows his dramatic talents, but he can transform himself when given the opportunity.  Sure, he rose to fame as badass gearhead Dominic Turetto in the "Fast and Furious" franchise, but remember that this guy also played mobster Jackie DiNorscio in " Find Me Guilty " and a fratty stockbroker in " Boiler Room ."  Not many actors could pull that off, but Vin Diesel can. I mention this because I want to give credit where credit is due: Vin Diesel is the best thing in "A Man Apart."  In fact I could argue that he's the only good thing in it.  I don't mean that as a cheap shot.  The actor brings depth and complexity to a character that shows wh...

 3/4 Rated PG-13 for Some Strong Language Warning: this documentary will make you mad! Hubris and corporate greed caused the deaths of hundreds of people.  Two 737 Max jets, Boeing's bright new hope and smash seller, crashed within five months of each other.  None survived in either crash.  Long before the plane even went to market, Boeing was well aware of the technical problems related to its MCAS system.  Not only did they do nothing about it, they deceived everyone into believing it was not a problem.  Further, they cracked down on any concerns regarding the new technology.  Both from the consumers (including Lion Air, who lost one of the aircraft) and their own employees. Those are the conclusions drawn from "Downfall: The Case Against Boeing."  While it may not be the most innovative or deep documentary out there, it's effective in achieving its goals.  It tells us what happened with the 737 Max and why it was allowed to happen.  I...

 3/4 Starring: Daniel Karimyar, Fardin Mijdzadeh Rated PG-13 for Thematic Content, Disturbing Images and Strong Language I've often found that seemingly ordinary people have the best stories.  They're not bound by rules of the so-called "heroic journey," not hammered into quadrant marketing or weighed down by canon, fan service, or whatever.  Seen through the lives of the ordinary person, we get a first-hand look at their experiences.  That is what was so fascinating about the "World War Z" book; it never saw the bigger picture and instead took the point of view of the grunt, the soccer mom and people like that.  Of course, the movie version fell victim to all the usual problems that always befall blockbusters not helmed by Christopher Nolan, Steven Spielberg, James Cameron and the few filmmakers who can work with big budgets and not be beholden to the studio heads. In any event, "Flee" is a story just like that.  Amin isn't an extraordinary in...